I KNEW it was big, but it was a challenge that I just couldn’t say no to....

Red Dog Saloon has swung open its Southampton doors to welcome customers in for food, drinks, and some of the craziest eating challenges around.

That includes the Devastator Challenge – 18 ounces of beef patties, 200 grams of pulled pork, six rashers of bacon, and six slices of cheese, all sandwiched between a hamburger bun.

This, along with a portion of fries and a milkshake, has to be consumed within 10 minutes.

And for those who meet the challenge , the prize – aside from a full stomach and a touch of indigestion – is a Red Dog Saloon t-shirt, and the glory of knowing that they beat a challenge only five percent of people succeed in.

At a cost of £27.75 I just had to give this a try.

When the hamburger was brought to the table, it was a looming tower of meat, casting a gigantic shadow of doubt in my mind that I would ever be able to eat the thing, let alone do so within 10 minutes.

After feebly clamping my comparatively dwarfed hands around the sandwich, I began chomping through the smoked and beautifully cooked meat medley. The strawberry milkshake, while delicious, was thick and creamy – not at all conducive to completing the challenge and a distraction from the job at hand.

It wasn’t long before I was feeling full, yet the seemingly everlasting burger had barely diminished.

There were also still plenty of fries, and my beaker was still half full of the rich shake.

Sweat beads were beginning to form on my brow like morning dew clinging to a blade of grass, gradually gathering mass before snaking their way down my face.

Every mouthful at this moment was like climbing a mountain, and every gulp became agonising.

As the minutes fell away, so did my chances. Even by 20 minutes, double the limit, I had only eaten two thirds of the hamburger, most of the fries and drunk the milkshake.

I had failed - miserably.

It was, without doubt, much too big an ask, even for someone with an appetite for burgers like mine.

Yes, this time my eyes were much bigger than my belly, but it was fun and incredibly satisfying giving it a go.

For those with a passion for all things spicy, Red Dog Saloon also offers the Naga Viper Chilli Challenge.

This involves eating six chicken wings covered in a dressing 500 times the strength of Tabasco Sauce in ten minutes.

The participant must then wait for five minutes before having any form of liquid pass their lips.

Red Dog Saloon Southampton is the fourth Red Dog restaurant nationwide, and offers it’s diners an eating experience in a saloon themed environment. Specialising in smoked barbecue foods and burgers, they have plenty on offer - not just gut or taste-bud busting challenges.